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Oil supply threatened amid Houthi attacks and strait blockade

Published : Tuesday, 15 September, 2026 at 8:57 AM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched a massive wave of missile and drone attacks targeting military and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia on Monday (September 14), as high-level emergency deliberations took place in Riyadh over the rebels' rapid coastal advances along the Red Sea.

The renewed offensive coincides with the postponement of crucial diplomatic talks between Gulf Arab states and Iran, driving global crude oil prices over 4 per cent higher during intraday trading before settling up 1 per cent. Reuters reported.

Cross-Border Strikes and Regional Emergency Alerts

Houthi forces confirmed firing dozens of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at King Khalid Airbase in Khamis Mushait, southern Saudi Arabia. The strikes targeted aircraft hangars, radar installations, runways, and ammunition depots in reported retaliation for coalition airstrikes in Yemen.

Saudi authorities issued emergency warnings across Khamis Mushait and three adjacent southern cities. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that at least 13 civilians were wounded during the incoming barrage.

In response, joint Saudi and Yemeni government air forces intensified aerial bombardment against Houthi defensive positions along the Red Sea coast, particularly surrounding the historic port city of Mocha. However, government officials acknowledged that Houthi forces maintain effective control over almost the entire western coastline.

Energy Infrastructure and Strait Blockade Pressure

The recent Houthi takeover of Perim Island at the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, combined with last Thursday's drone strike that forced the total shutdown of Saudi Arabia's 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) East-West pipeline, has severely restricted Saudi crude export capacity.

Built in the 1980s to bypass the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq War, the East-West pipeline allows Riyadh to transport crude directly to Red Sea terminals. Market analysts warn that a prolonged pipeline closure, combined with the current blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—which ordinarily carries 20 per cent of global oil exports—could remove up to 4 per cent of total world oil supply from the market.

Stalled Diplomacy and Maritime Disputes

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the maritime standstill hit a major wall after Oman announced the postponement of a key summit between Gulf states and Iran. Iranian officials claimed the postponement came at Saudi Arabia's request.

While US President Donald Trump stated that Tehran was eager for negotiations, Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, dismissed the statement, asserting on X that no talks would occur until Iran's preconditions are met.

Meanwhile, conflicting accounts emerged regarding an incident involving the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker El Gaia. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the vessel struck sea mines in a restricted zone south of the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command refuted the claim, stating the tanker was rendered inoperable by an Iranian missile strike last month. The UN International Maritime Organization confirmed the ship was damaged on Saturday with two crew members missing.

Washington Deliberates as Escalation Continues

The crisis presents an escalating challenge for US foreign policy. Sources indicate Washington has so far resisted direct Saudi requests for military intervention beyond providing intelligence support. However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with US regional commander Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah on Monday to evaluate defensive options.

-SA